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PC Makers Facing a Flop
In Home Entertainment

Dell's Retreat Is Latest Sign
That Consumers Still Prefer
More Traditional Offerings

By

Gary McWilliams Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated Nov. 2, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

The personal-computer industry's march into the living room is proving to be a slog.

A few years ago, the nation's Big Three PC makers charged into the market for big-screen TVs and digital cameras and music players, counting on their PC prowess to catapult them from the home office into home entertainment. They planned to exploit PC-style economics -- based on off-the-shelf components, low markups and high turnover -- to give...